Pink Floyd - The Wall [DVD] [1982] [2000]

A mandatory purchase for all Pink Floyd fans, this iconic 1982 Alan Parker-directed film based on the album looks fantastic in its new Hi-Definition film transfer with the images spotless and colors perfectly saturated. Sonically it is also a real treat. Going through my quality Hi-fi stereo system set up around my large LED TV the sound is stunningly good. My son and I sent the ladies out for a couple of hours, closed the curtains, cranked up the volume and had a blast. Adding to the pleasure is a bucket-load of extras – substantial documentaries, a commentary (by Roger Waters and Gerald Scarfe) and lots of tidbits including a video of “Hey You”, a song inexplicably omitted from the complete film.The only quibbles I have about this DVD concern the film itself. Coming to it for the first time in 25 years I was reminded of the same reservations I once had when viewing it in the kitchen of my college dormitory. I still don’t like what has been done to “Mother”. One of the best songs on the album, it is slowed down, the guitar being replaced by lullaby baby bells at the beginning. It even grinds to a halt half way through only to resume again. The original album version is simpler and much much better. Also, the added musical material still does nothing for the film, especially the very first song etching in daddy’s life on the Anzio front before he is butchered. A lot of extra imagery and noises have been added between songs and still serve to stretch a concept which was already wafer-thin perilously close to breaking-point – come on Roger, stop wallowing in self-pity and get a life! As a concept album for listening only there’s never a problem with this. We can forget the story and simple relish the extraordinary songs. Put to images in a film however, and the thin-ness is all too evident.That said, there is more than enough in the film to make it essential viewing – Bob Geldof’s miserable posturing in front of the TV, the kids being processed and marched into the mincer by their draconian teachers, Pink breaking up his hotel room and drowning in the swimming pool, the emotional meltdown of “Comfortably Numb” and the spectacular staging of a fascist rally replete with animated marching hammers are just some of the highlights. Other points of interest are Bob Hoskins in an early role as Pink's tour manager and a reference to Dark Side of the Moon (the poem the teacher ridicules Pink for in class contains some of the lyrics for "Money"). I still find Gerald Scarfe’s animation spot-on in the grotesque caricatures (especially the wife as a deadly flower and then later a scorpion), and Alan Parker’s punchy no-nonsense direction straightforward and unobtrusive. The album is pictorialized pretty much as it is with only the minor alterations mentioned above to qualify the total effect. Buying this is a no-brainer for fans. Watching it with my son I just thought how wonderful it was to experience this blast from the past and pass the passion on to the next generation…

A great movie, with a great soundtrack. Saw this many years ago, talk about nostalgia.

This is a Spanish release and the only blu-ray release of 'The Wall' ever. The image quality is fine; not a great transfer but significantly better than dvd. The audio is multi-channel and very effective. I had low expectations for the quality of this but I was very pleasantly surprised.

Cracking dvd, used to own on vhs many years back so as I'm a big floyd fan thought I'd treat me self. Not disappointed! Excellent condition, value, service and delivery. Great stuff.

An unofficial release, but it's good. The band won't put out an updated release so someone else has. Good picture and sound quality. This sits nicely inside The Wall Immersion boxset as it always should have

It was as advertised. Very good

Love the Film Pity about the Sub Titles being Permently being on

What can I say about this film that hasn't already been said? It is the only film without dialogue that has moved me to tears, particularly the 'Bring the Boys Back Home' section in the WW2 railway station and 'When the Tigers Broke Free' where we see ''Pink'' as a young boy discover the official notice of his fathers' death in the war which his mother had kept secret from him. Another great aspect of this film is the cartoon sequences by Gerald Scarfe which are quite incredible and tell their own story. As for the music itself, there are a few differences from the original album, including a very different version of 'Mother', 'Empty Spaces' is extended, 'When the Tigers Broke Free' is added to the soundtrack and is now available on the updated version of 'The Final Cut',and Bob Geldof does the vocals on 'In the Flesh'. 'Hey You' is not included in the soundtrack. If the album was a little confusing then this film puts the events past and present into context. There is madness, sadness, despair, and isolation in this film, with just a dash of hope at the end. A fantastic film by director Alan Parker, and it stands alone as the only one of its type. Everybody should see it!!